New Poetry for the Holidays-Emmanuel Poems, A Small Collection

Plus an announcement for the next season here on Substack

Emmanuel Poems: Verses for the Holidays

We know from the Church Calendar that Hallowtide is upon us—the days of All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day beginning on October 31st.

However, as I mentioned in a recent post, the consumer-driven Christmas season has alas, already bombarded our senses at every hand. Two weeks ago I offered readers a list of books for families & individuals—of poetry, fiction, inspiration and more—providing an anchor for intentionally living with a focus on Jesus in the days ahead, to help recalibrate our souls.¹

To that end, it’s time to tell you about my small offering of poetry. Emmanuel Poems is a 12-poem collection, an updated ebook with revised work from its original, plus two new poems and original spare artwork by yours truly. (I played around with abstract shapes and images in Canva to add a bit to each poem.)

My intent with the ebook—also available as a PDF download—was to offer readers a taste of poetry with which to whet their appetite, dipping into the ocean of verse maybe for the first time.

And of course provide inspiration for upcoming season of Christmas.

Here’s a brief description from Amazon:

Emmanuel means ‘God with us’, Christ’s title that umbrellas the theme of this small volume of one dozen poems. The subjects move slowly through pondering the season of Christmastide, from Advent-a time of waiting and preparation-to Epiphany-Christ’s presentation to the world and our sending.

The poems begin with reflections on the challenges of the holiday season in “Search.Light.” about the work of aligning our hearts to resist underneath-the-surface pressures to create a ‘perfect Christmas.’ Moving through Mary’s declaration then tracing Christ’s birth his dedication and Christ’s miraculous appearance to the Magi, readers are reminded of the reason for Christ’s birth. God sent His Son to Earth with an eye on His death and resurrection, leaving us to go and tell the world of God’s presence right where we are: Emmanuel, God with us.

A Glimpse of the Contents                                                 

1.       Hidden

2.      Search.Light.

3.      Thoughts on an Amaryllis for Advent

4.      Ad Vent

5.      Prepare Him Room

6.      Dayspring from on High

7.      Plating the Bread of Life

8.     Woodplane

9.      The Word Became Flesh

10.  Anna Waits

11.   Christmas Communion

12.  Undecorating on Twelfth Night

Emmanuel Poems is available on Amazon as an ebook for $2.99, as a PDF download for $3.99 and as a signed print chapbook for $4.99 + $2.00 shipping via the Books link on my Author website HERE. Note: I crafted some accompanying illustrations generated using Canva Pro in my amateur attempt to provide the reader an abstract reference point for reflection. Professional artists and designers, I beg your indulgence.

I do hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to read a little poetry and make space for some quiet reflection in the holiday season ahead.

An Announcement

Speaking of quiet reflection, I will be taking the months of November and December off from writing to you each week. There are family trips and events to plan for, personal work to attend and writing clients to assist in their writing journey.

A pause for peace is called for. I will be back in January, which seems eons away but blink, and it’ll be 2025 before we know it. I have a poetry project I’ll be drafting in my down time and other exciting work to tell you about when I return.

I pray you’ll find the presence of Jesus close as you find your own pockets of peace—with a little poetry—in the holy-day season ahead. And please tell us in the Comments where you’ve found those precious moments and what helped land you there, no matter what you’re reading.

Until next time,

Jody

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1. Oh, and there’s an election. Yeah, that. It is something, but it’s not everything; please vote my friend, but know that God is in charge and we look to Him.